WRTA union OKs contract

Saturday

Nov 27, 2010 at 6:00 AMNov 27, 2010 at 10:03 AM

By Martin Luttrell TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

The union that represents Worcester Regional Transit Authority bus drivers and mechanics approved a two-year contract last night on a company proposal that gives a 1 percent raise in the first year, followed by a 1.5 percent raise the second year.

Union workers voted at the American Legion post on Hartwell Street 69-22 to accept the offer after being given the proposal to review at 9:30 p.m.

“I'm pretty disappointed in the contract — it's not a good contract,” said Christopher W. Bruce, business agent for Local 22. “The economy is not very good and the company kind of kicked us when we were down because of the economy. We are happy to keep the buses rolling.”

He said had the union, which has about 140 members, rejected the contract, a two-thirds vote of the membership would be needed to proceed with the strike.

Union president Kenneth K. Kephart said the vote reflects the wishes of the employees who didn't want to disrupt bus service.

The first raise is effective today; the second year starts July 1, 2011. In addition, union members will get a $1,000 signing bonus, and the company will put a $1.2 million lump sum into the company's pension system.

Under the pact, the employee health care contribution rate remains at 13 percent, and the employee contribution to the pension system increases by 1 percent.

In the second year of the contract, the employee contribution to health care increases to 20 percent, and the weekly employee contribution of $5.25 toward retiree healthcare terminates. On June 30, 2012 — the last day of the contract — the employee health care contribution will increase to 25 percent, according to the company.

WRTA Administrator Stephen F. O'Neil said the offer put forward was fair, and he was glad it was accepted.

“I'm very thankful that the public will continue to be served,” he said. “I think they put a very fair offer on the table, and the union voted to proceed forward.”

John F. Carney, general manager of RTA Transit Services Inc., which runs the buses, said he was confident the proposal would be accepted.

“I don't think anybody wants to go out and strike,” he said. “I think the relationship that we had over the last couple of months was not that adversarial. The company didn't get everything it needed. Toward the end, with the support of the city manager and local legislative delegation, there was a resolution.

“I didn't see that much negativity. I hope people don't think there's a lack of appreciation. It's been a long process, and I think everyone is glad to have it over.”

The vote came 14 days into a cooling-off period that delayed a strike slated for Nov. 13.

“We are very pleased that all parties were able to recognize that our passengers and riders are job number one and that we needed to get a deal for them,” said City Manager Michael V. O'Brien. He said he was grateful to all parties involved in the agreement for “finding the middle ground to get to this accord.”